Why Do Tomatoes Lose Flavor In The Fridge? Science Has The Answer

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 07: Tomatoes are displayed inside at RHS (Royal Horticultural Show) London Harvest Festival Show on October 7, 2014 in London, England. Growers from across the UK come together for the show at the RHS Horticultural Halls in Westminster to exhibit their seasonable bounty in the annual fruit and vegetable competition. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — It’s a problem that’s plagued us for decades: Why do tomatoes lose their flavor when you put them in the refrigerator? Scientists now have your answer.

It’s all about the aroma compounds.

Tomatoes are basically made up of sugars, acid and aroma compounds.

“The sugars and acids don’t change when you put them in the refrigerator, but you lose all those aroma compounds that give tomatoes that characteristic flavor that really are the essence of tomato flavor,” Denise Tieman, the new study’s co-author and a research associate professor at the Plant Innovation Center at the University of Florida told KCBS.

Tieman says they found changes in the DNA of the tomatoes after a trip into the fridge.

“That causes an irreversible change, so that we can’t make any more of those aroma compounds,” she said.

This leaves the food industry with a conundrum…how do you ship tomatoes and prevent spoilage without refrigeration? While they ponder that problem, how ‘bout the holy grail of tomato issues? Why do home-grown tomatoes always taste better?

“We have looked at the aroma compounds in those and found that they have much more of the aroma compounds, and we’re trying to figure out what sort of makes the perfect tomato. What combination of all these compounds makes the best tomato flavor,” Tieman said.

Susan Leigh Taylor

Susan attended Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne (home of the Mastodons). Her career in radio began at the age of 2, when she called a morning DJ to tell a “knock-knock” joke. She still has trouble with punch lines. Her first radio...